Later One Night…
Sonic sighed as he stared out in front of him. All those years, all those memories. Slowly, he drew himself out of thought and turned his back to the night sky. The night sky that had started it, late one night, all those years ago…
Amy walked up along the path and wrapped her arms around her husband. Sonic smiled and hugged his beloved wife back. Above them, the bright and shining moon sat in full glare as it gazed down upon them.
After a while, Amy took Sonic's hand and motioned for him to follow her back inside. Of course, Sonic followed. But then, a dark rustling got his attention and he froze.
"What is it Sonic?" Amy asked, turning to where the blue hero was looking.
"…Amy… do you feel that energy?" Sonic said in his mysterious voice.
Amy closed her eyes. The strange waves of energy fluttered in the night's air. Opening her eyes, she looked at Sonic, who had now also identified the energy.
Chaos Energy.
Tails sighed, sitting in his room, gazing at the ceiling. Something wasn't right. Ever since the wedding, Tails has gotten the weirdest readings of Chaos Energy he'd ever seen. Not even Super Emeralds gave off that kind of energy.
What is it? I know it isn't Sonic going super, although the energy's feel is similar. But Sonic wouldn't have a reason to go super. We locked Eggman in the funny farm long ago, and there's no way he could have…
Tails bolted up out of bed, racing towards his computer. Checking the GUN website, he looked at the recent villains in captivity. Eggman's presence was absent.
"Oh no!" Tails raced to his dresser and threw on his clothes, "Why didn't stupid GUN tell us Eggman got away! There's no way Sonic is fit enough to fight him anymore! Not after this long!" Opening his door, he left Vanilla a note saying he was going out, but said nothing more. Then, taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, he stepped into the icy cold night.
"How!?" Knuckles exclaimed, racing around. His eyes were anxious, as if something of value had disappeared.
Amethyst ran from behind the shrine, "It isn't back here, daddy!"
Knuckles cursed loudly. "I can't believe I let him take it!" He fell to his knees and pounded the ground, tears of frustration sliding down his face. He wiped them away and cursed again.
Rouge flew down from the other side of Angel Island, "There's no sign of that creep over there… But don't worry! We'll find him and get the Master Emerald back before…" Rouge froze. A tremor from deep within the Island roared and the whole area began to quake.
"That… vibration! The island's power isn't running anymore without the emerald and it'll fall into the sea before daybreak!" Knuckles exclaimed.
"What're we gonna do!?" Amethyst shouted.
"First, we'll get you safe off the island! We'll find the emerald after you are safe!" Knuckles swept his daughter into his arms and ran to the edge. Rouge watched as he took off, more worried for his family than his duties. Knuckles brought her to reality though with a, "Hurry your ass, woman!"
Slightly agitated, Rouge took off flying beside Knuckles, who was gliding with Amethyst in his arms. Realizing he would fall, Rouge snatched her daughter away.
"Hey!" Knuckles said, losing balance.
"Let me carry her Knucklehead. I can fly, you can glide. There IS a difference."
Knuckles was going to argue, but sight of the only home he ever had falling into the dark ocean made him shiver, and he kept gliding.
Sonic looked around, trying to get an idea where the energy was coming from. It was powerful, very powerful. He closed his eyes so he could concentrate. Then, after reading the energy, his eyes widened in fear.
It was strong enough to destroy them all.
Sonic looked down at Amy, who could also feel the destruction this wave of power could cause.
"Well, well, well… How nice to see you again, Sonic The Hedgehog!"
Sonic looked up and his eyes widened. In the moonlight, the shadow of a dark figure hung over the couple, the energy radiating from behind the old nemesis.
Dr. Eggman had returned.
Tails ran as fast as his feet could take him. Deeper into the woods he ran, searching and searching for sight of Sonic and Amy's home.
Why did those two have to move out in the middle of nowhere? Just my luck. Why tonight of all nights?
Tails passed through the forest and came to the beach. He gazed around the coast and then jumped in alarm. Two figures were flying out from the sea, behind them, a massive tidal wave that only meant one thing.
"Angel Island!"
Knuckles turned around and his face grew white with fear, "Rouge! Move!"
Rouge turned her head and saw the wave. Feeling the life of her daughter in her arms, she beat her wings as fast as she could and pulled out far ahead of Knuckles. Turning her head, she saw the ocean swallow up knuckles.
"Daddy!" Amethyst cried. Rouge cuddled her daughter closer to her, fearing the worst for Knuckles. But Amethyst was her duty now. Then, off in the shoreline, she saw a familiar orange speck waving at her, obviously trying to gain her attention. Losing altitude, she collapsed onto the sandy beach, exhausted.
Tails watched as the monstrous wave sucked up Knuckles. He hung his head sadly, but then put his attention on the other two. Both were clearly coming into view was Rouge and Amethyst. Signaling, he waved, trying to get Rouge to land by him. After a few more moments, Rouge fell onto the beach. Tails ran up and looked her over to make sure the fall hadn't injured her. She fell at least 10 feet.
Then, he looked at the little echidna-bat. She looked basically unharmed and Tails sighed with relief. Then, he looked out to see at the titanic sized waves. Not even Knuckles' talented swimming could have survived that.
Then, a cry for help caught his attention and he looked up onto the hill where his destination had come into view. But something there was quite unexpected.
"What are you doing here?" Sonic growled, standing in front of Amy to protect her.
"What? Can't I visit an old friend without being questioned?" Eggman asked, sounding innocent. His eyes fell upon Sonic's hand; at the wedding ring, "So… you and Amy worked it out alright. That's good to hear… Why wasn't I invited to the reception?" He grinned, pretending to sound hurt.
Sonic began to grow frustrated, "What's the real reason you're here?"
"Ah! You do know me well, Blue Boy… I actually came here for a personal reason… You see," He grinned evilly, "Many a year I've been longing for and plotting my revenge. And now that revenge has come forth in a way so sinister that the devil himself shall shudder at the thought!"
Sonic grew anxious, but he hid his anxiety. The last thing he wanted was for Amy to know he was afraid, or she'd get scared, and the very last thing he wanted to do was put doubt in his protection for Amy. "Everything will be all right." Sonic said, "I promise…"
Suddenly, Eggman's arms flew up from his sides to his head and hovered up in the air above his skull. Then, the rumbling sound began as something began to emerge from behind him. "My creature of the night!" Eggman cried, "Use all your strength and destroy Sonic the Hedgehog once and for all!"
Then, the glowing yellow eyes of the demonic creature flashed brightly as if they came directly from the night sky itself.
Sonic stepped back in fear, "Impossible! It's just can't be…"
Rouge opened her eyes, "Huh? What happened…" She tried to sit up, but Tails stopped her.
"You should take it easy! You had a big fall there!" Tails told her.
Rouge looked around, "Where's Knuckles?"
Tails stared at the ground, "…The waves got him…"
Tears slid down Rouge's face, but at least Knuckles had used his last efforts to save his daughter…
"Ewwwwwwwwwwww…"
Tails and Rouge looked up to see some sort of seaweed monster and Amethyst was obviously disgusted by it.
"Ewwwwwwwwwwww…" She repeated.
Rouge jumped up and ran at the creature, "Uhm… is my husband under there?"
The creature tried to move, and pulled out a arm from under the goose, then, out popped Knuckles, "That was… the most nasty thing… I've ever been covered in… I smell like a dead fish!"
Tails laughed, but then covered his nose, "Yuck! You do smell like one… Anyway, what are you guys doing here… and what happened to the island??"
Knuckles took in a deep breath. This was a touchy subject for Knuckles to talk about, but he had to explain himself, "The master emerald got taken away… I practically LET him have it… And without the emerald, Angel Island sinks like a rock…"
"Knuckles… who took it?"
Knuckles looked up, "Dr. Eggman…"
"No!" Amy cried as Sonic fell to his knees. A beam of energy had just made direct contact with poor Sonic, right in the chest. Sonic groaned as the monstrous beast grinned. It was lizard-like and had a long neck and tail. It was the revived Ultimate Life form.
Sonic stood up, "You cannot beat me…"
Eggman laughed, "You've become soft as you've settled down, my friend. Now, prepare to "Settle Down" for all and for eternity!" The beast attacked again, and Sonic tried to run, but was so tired, he got hit in the back of the head.
"Sonic! No!" Amy ran over and knelt beside Sonic. Eggman laughed again.
"By beast! Destroy him and the foolish girl!"
The creature began to approach Amy, and she screamed. Then, a strange glow surrounded Amy and, as the creature struck, a shield barrier appeared.
"Huh?" Amy said, confused. Just then, a dark figure materialized before Amy. "Shadow!?" Amy asked.
Shadow's spirit turned to Amy, "In life I've defeated this monster and in death I shall show no weakness!"
The spirit ran at the beast and hit the target that sat on its back, disabling it. Then, the monster finally defeated, the spirit faded away.
"Argh! Impossible! This is insane!" Eggman yelled.
"Eggman, you're finished!" Amy said, grinning. Then, the glow surrounded her again, "And this time, I'm going to make sure of it!" Amy lifted her hands into the air and then, a form of energy appeared and fired straight at Eggman.
"No!" Eggman cried, but it was too late, and he disintegrated along with his monster. Amy sighed and then focused her attention on Sonic.
Tails looked up on the hill, "Did you see that energy?"
Knuckles and Rouge looked up, the beam of pink energy having just flown over their heads. After staring in awe for a minute or so, Knuckles snapped out of it, "Hey! I can feel the energy of the master emerald close by!"
Knuckles darted up the hill with the other three close behind. As he approached the top, green shards lying on the ground came into view. He immediately went about to collect them up rather than notice who was standing in front of him.
"Amy! Sonic!" Rouge said, noticing the other two sitting there. Her eyes darted at the limp Sonic, "Amy! What just happened here!?"
Amy looked up and seemed to be aghast, "It's Sonic! He isn't breathing!"
Knuckles dropped the shards as he heard that and, along with the others, ran over to Sonic. Sonic's body was still and battered. Tears were flooding Amy's eyes. Knuckles pressed down onto Sonic's chest a few times to see if he could restart a heart beat…
…but it was too late.
"No! Sonic!" Amy cried, "You promised everything would be all right! You can't be gone! You just can't be!"
Everyone stared down in sorrow. Amy and Sonic had barely been married a year… and now…
"…I told you… everything would be… okay…"
"Huh?" Amy looked down as Sonic began to sit up, his eyes opening.
"Sonic!" Amy cried, glomping him.
"Geeze Amy! I should almost die more often if I get hugged like that!" Sonic laughed.
"Sonic! You're okay!" Amy said again, but then, her mood changed as she hit him with her hammer, "You bastard! I was worried SICK about you!"
"Ow!"
"Well…" Knuckles said, clearing his throat, "I guess I'd better go and get Angel Island floating up again…"
"Wait Dad!" Amethyst said, flying in his way, "I'll go do it!" She gathered up the shards and placed the together, the emerald taking its normal shape, and then she lifted the gem and took off to the sinking island.
Rouge sighed, "Just great… she's going to turn out like you…"
"What's so bad about that?" Knuckles asked.
There was an awkward silence. Knuckles got the message and grumbled, flying out to the island. Rouge burst out laughing, and then she too, took off.
"Well, I'd better go back before Vanilla gets worried…" Tails said, getting ready to go, "So… I'll see you guys later…" Then he whispered, "…maybe…"
Sonic could tell Tails was upset. They hadn't seen each other at all since the wedding. He gave a glance at Amy and the called out, "Hey Tails!"
Tails turned around. "Wanna stay the night here/ I mean, it is already midnight… no point in you walking all the way back and finding out it's morning, eh?"
Tails' face brightened as he ran over and then, running down the path to Sonic and Amy's house called out, "I call the bedroom!"
Sonic gasped, "Amy! He called the bedroom! Only two fit in that bed… so you get the couch…"
"Uhm… no…" Amy said, walking over, "Now that we're married, you don't get to win anymore."
Sonic thought about that a moment, but before he could comment, Amy dashed into the house yelling back to the azure hedgehog, "I call guest room!"
Over a decade has past since that day, late one night, when everything went wrong. Now, years later, everything has gone right, and for more years to come, it shall remain that way. The only thing bad that happened after the final evil was destroyed was that one night when a man told Sonic, "She's fine. All 3 heart beats are perfectly healthy."
After about 50 years passed and both Sonic and Amy were old and gray, they still look back to that night, late one night, when their lives were drastically changed forever…
The End
I Mean it This Time